Laufach offers several distinct themes for a stay: cultural trails exploring 19th-century history, reminders of the railway, and cycling routes. Which ones you focus on depends on whether you want to visit historic sites, trace how the railway transformed the Laufach Valley, or use the cycle path to travel between the districts.
Cultural Trails Offering Different Perspectives
The European Cultural Trail “Revolution and Fraternal War” leads to sites associated with 19th-century history. In Frohnhofen, the marked trail passes the “1849 Assembly Meadow” along the railway line to the Wendelstein estate. Its stops also include the memorials to the fallen Hessian soldiers, directly behind the “Old Brewery” in Frohnhofen. This brings the theme to life at named locations, from the assembly site to the memorials.
The 14-kilometre European Cultural Trail “Spessartrampe” takes a different approach. It follows the railway line from Laufach station to Heigenbrücken stop. Along the way, it offers insights into changes to the landscape around the steep section of track and the changes the railway brought to the Laufach Valley. By contrast, “Revolution and Fraternal War” focuses on 19th-century events and memorial sites. The different themes can help you choose the cultural trail that best suits your interests.
Railway History and Tunnel Construction
At the Eisenbahnerlebnis Spessartrampe leisure area, a former Deutsche Bahn regional train carriage serves as an information centre on railway history in the Laufach Valley. The period covered ranges from construction of the Spessartrampe around 160 years ago to the Hanau–Nantenbach ICE high-speed line, with its four tunnels. This covers both the historic steep section of track and a later chapter in railway history.
The leisure area also has a Geolodge and a rock trail. Both provide information about rock discoveries from tunnel construction. Another stop on the European Cultural Trail “Spessartrampe” is at the preserved entrance to the Schwarzkopf Tunnel on the Laufach side. In 2018, Laufach street artist Max Hasenstab created graffiti there depicting a steam locomotive and a man with a speech bubble. The tunnel entrance, cultural trail and graffiti each offer a different perspective on the railway.
Cycling and the Leisure Area
A fully asphalted long-distance cycle path connects Laufach’s districts of Frohnhofen and Hain. For most of its route, it runs away from motor traffic. If you are planning a cycling trip, you can use the path to travel between these two districts; check local updates for temporary works or closures. The Spessart Trails 1 and 2 also cross in Laufach.
The leisure area has a double slide, a zip line, a Dutch disc, a play train, a table tennis table and a basketball court. As facilities may change, check locally for the latest information before your visit. A barbecue hut, a communal meeting area and a tent meadow offer options for day trips and events for children’s and youth groups or clubs. If you are planning a group event, these facilities may be useful for your preparations.
The local themes offer a clear choice: the cultural trails explore history and changes to the landscape through their respective stops, while the cycle path connects Frohnhofen and Hain. Eisenbahnerlebnis Spessartrampe complements these routes with information on railway and tunnel history, as well as the leisure facilities mentioned above.
Discover more destinations: Goldbach, Johannesberg, Geiselbach, Krombach, Rothenbuch, Mespelbrunn, Großostheim, Mömbris.
For the main travel overview: Aschaffenburg.
